Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty To Two New Charges In Explosive Nightclub Case

Chris Brown is continuing to proclaim his innocence in a high-profile London assault case tied to a 2023 nightclub incident, officially pleading not guilty to two new charges in court on Friday.

The R&B star appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court, where he denied allegations of assault causing actual bodily harm against Abraham Diaw.

The alleged altercation occurred in February 2023 at the upscale nightclub TAPE, where Chris Brown is accused of striking Diaw with a tequila bottle.

Brown also pled not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, the same tequila bottle allegedly used in the assault.

These charges follow an earlier not guilty plea to a more serious accusation of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, entered during a June hearing.

The singer's trial is officially scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026.

Brown is facing the charges alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, who has also denied all allegations against him.

This legal development comes after Brown was arrested by authorities in May while staying at a Manchester hotel, his first return to the U.K. since the alleged incident. He was granted conditional bail, surrendering his passport and posting a financial guarantee reportedly worth approximately $6.7 million.

While the Grammy-winning artist has a well-documented history involving physical violence, most infamously his 2009 conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, Brown maintains he is not guilty of the latest charges.

Following his arrest, Diaw's attorney, Ryan J. Daneshrad, confirmed the alleged victim was "pursuing all legal remedies to hold [Brown] accountable."

However, TMZ reported in late June that Diaw filed to dismiss his civil lawsuit against Brown in Los Angeles County court. That filing does not impact the criminal proceedings currently moving forward in the U.K.

Brown was taken into custody by local authorities in the early hours of May 15, just hours before he was expected to appear in court. He was arrested at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, marking his first return to the U.K. since the alleged assault took place.

In a statement, the London Metropolitan Police confirmed Brown was apprehended on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. The February 2023 incident, which allegedly took place inside the VIP area of TAPE nightclub, was thoroughly investigated under the supervision of officers from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.

Following the arrest, Brown received a wave of support from fans and friends, including NFL superstar Odell Beckham Jr.

The wide receiver took to Instagram to rally behind the singer, posting a photo of Brown to his Story along with the caption, "Free Breeeezyyy. The moral compass will never lie. We waiting on ya."

This isn't the first time Brown has faced serious legal trouble.

In 2009, he pleaded guilty to felony assault after a violent altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna the night before the Grammy Awards. The incident, which left Rihanna visibly bruised and hospitalized, sent shockwaves through the entertainment world and marked a significant turning point in Brown's public image and career.

Following the assault, Brown released a statement saying, "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired."

Rihanna, who initially remained quiet, opened up about the experience months later in a 2009 "20/20" interview with Diane Sawyer.

"I felt like, 'Oh my God, he hit me,'" she recalled. "He had no soul in his eyes. Just blank." She added, "I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed. I could not be easy with that part. I couldn't be held responsible for going back."

Brown was sentenced to five years of probation, community service, and domestic violence counseling. Despite ongoing backlash and public scrutiny in the years that followed, he gradually returned to the music scene, though his legal history has continued to shadow him.

The current charges in London, involving allegations of bodily harm and use of an offensive weapon, have reignited conversations about Brown's history of violence and accountability.